Wednesday, 23 July 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Monday, July 21, 2014

The government on Monday urged all Filipinos in
Libya to return to the country due to the “extremely unstable political and
security situation there.”

In a statement sent to members of the Malacañang
Press Corps, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr. said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised Alert Level
4 in Libya.

Under Alert Level 4, a mandatory repatriation of
Filipino citizens is in effect.

“The DFA reiterated its call for all remaining
Filipinos in Libya to return home immediately, considering that it is no longer
safe to remain in Libya,” said Secretary Coloma.

He added that the DFA has already sent a Rapid
Response Team, as well as an augmentation team to Libya to assist the
Philippine embassy in Tripoli in the repatriation.

All Filipinos in Libya were advised to
immediately contact the Philippine Embassy through telephone numbers (00218) 918-244-208
and (00218) 911061166; and e-mail addresses tripoli.pe@gmail.com and
tripoli.pe@dfa.gov.ph.

“According to the DFA, it has also set up a
24-hour hotline for families of OFWs in Libya,” Coloma added.

He said that those who have questions and
concerns about the condition of their relatives in Libya could call hotline
numbers (02) 552-7105 or (02) 834-4685. Families may also send their queries
via e-mail at oumwa@dfa.gov.ph.

The DFA on Sunday also imposed a mandatory
repatriation of Filipino citizens in the Gaza Strip, following the escalation
of tensions between Israel and Hamas militants. PND (ag)

President Aquino extols Iglesia ni Cristo on its
100th anniversary

(BOCAUE, Bulacan) President Benigno S. Aquino
III was all praises for the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Monday as it celebrated
its 100th anniversary with the historic unveiling of the 75-hectare, one-stop
multi-purpose complex called Ciudad de Victoria (City of Victory).

The 55,000-seater Philippine Arena, recognized
as the largest domed indoor arena in the world, is part of the Ciudad de
Victoria.

President Aquino noted that a lot of
organizations pay a great deal of respect to the INC as an institution, not
only in the Philippines but throughout the world, since its establishment in
1914 by the honorable Felix Manalo.

The INC is known as a close-knit religious
organization, whose congregation leaders visit their members and actively
encourage them to participate in various church activities and other community
services.

Ciudad de Victoria, the President said, serves
as a concrete example of the exceptional unity manifested by the people of INC
throughout the years.

President Aquino said he was amazed at how the
Philippine Arena managed to live up to its billing upon completion of its
construction, as it is double the size of the famous Staples Center in Los
Angeles, California, USA.

The Philippine Arena alone reportedly cost more
than $200 million to build and is sturdy enough to withstand natural
calamities, including super typhoons and earthquakes.

Apart from the world’s largest arena, other
major infrastructure expected to rise soon in the Ciudad de Victoria are the
Philippine Sports Stadium, New Era University, Eraño G. Manalo Medical Center,
as well as housing projects, shops, and leisure parks.

Officials of the INC said these structures were
built not only for their members, but for other Filipinos of different
religious affiliations and foreign tourists as well, who would like to
experience the convenience these facilities provide.

(BOCAUE, Bulacan) President Benigno S. Aquino
III on Monday conveyed messages of love and unity to enemies he may have made
while pursuing reforms in the government.

The President issued the statement amid several
impeachment complaints filed by different groups against him, following his
defense of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), parts of which were
declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Quoting Bible verses before thousands of members
of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), President Aquino reminded his detractors that
instead of casting doubts, they have a duty to love one another as fellow
Christians.

President Aquino was INC’s guest of honor and
speaker during the inauguration of its Ciudad de Victoria, a major project for
the church’s centennial celebration of INC on Sunday, July 27.

To the delight of an estimated 50,000 INC
members, the President quoted John 13:34-35 -- A new command I give you: Love
one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this
everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another -- and
Matthew 25:40 -- The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for
one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

He said these are what members of the INC are
truly living by.

Most of the President’s speech contained praises
for the INC, whose remarkable achievements have helped improve the lives of
millions of Filipinos who are among its members.

He also thanked the religious institution for
its continuous support for his administration. The INC voted for President
Aquino during the 2010 elections.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Council (NDRRMC) is on blue alert status as Typhoon ‘Henry’ is still in the
Philippine Area of Responsibility, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda
said on Monday.

Under the blue alert status, half of the
personnel of all regional and municipal disaster risk reduction management
offices, regional civil defense offices, and other concerned government
agencies in would-be affected areas should be at their posts to monitor the
situation.

The areas of concern for this alert are the
provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and Batanes.

Lacierda said the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is continuously
monitoring the situation and disseminating weather bulletins and flood
advisories, while the Department of Social Works and Development’s (DSWD)
Municipal Disaster Response teams and Social Welfare Assistance and Municipal
Development teams are on alert to be readily available for duty.

He noted that a P2,754,274 fund has been set
aside and a total of 5,715 family food packs have been readied for distribution
to evacuation centers.

The Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), he said, is ready to clear roads in landslide- and flood-prone areas
while the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has instructed its
regional offices to roll out the pre-disaster risk assessment meetings, and
advise governors to participate in such meetings.

The Philippine Coast Guard meanwhile has issued
warnings to fisher folks to refrain from venturing into the sea, Lacierda said,
adding that military and navy units in Tacloban are standing by for possible
rescue operations.

As of 4 a.m. on Monday, the PAGASA has issued
public storm warning signal no. 1 over the Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan,
Babuyan and Calayan Group of Islands. PND (ag)